Tile Water Absorption Rate

In our previous post about the differences between ceramic and porcelain tile, we briefly touched upon this concept. The water absorption rate of a tile is a way to quantify the water resistance of that particular model of tile in a standardized, objective way. The test works like this:

Five small fragments of a tile—usually just a few inches square and taken from the centers of the full-sized tiles—are baked in a lab oven until their weight no longer changes. Fragments are used to increase the amount of exposed porous surface area of the tile, while the baking process assures the testers that there is absolutely no residual moisture in the pores of the tile.

After baking, the starting weight of each fragment is recorded. The tile fragments are then boiled in water for five hours and then left to soak in water for another 24 hours. Once that time is up, the fragments are weighed again. The finished weight is compared to the starting weight and expressed as a percentage; that percentage is the tile’s water absorption rate.

The lower the water absorption rate, the more resistant to moisture a tile is. This is also one of the key defining characteristics of porcelain tile in comparison to ceramic tile. In order to be officially classified and sold as porcelain tile, The Tile Council of North America mandates that the product must be at or below a 0.5% water absorption rate. Ceramic tiles, in contrast, are not bound by any industry standards for water resistance. While some ceramic tiles do get down to just above a 0.5% water absorption rate, most are in the low single digits, but others can get up into the double digits. So while most ceramic tile still offers good water resistance, porcelain tile will be the better solution for areas that see high levels of water exposure. Interested in the finer details of the testing process? Read more in this article from the TCNA.

PEI Rating

This is a term you’ll probably encounter on your tile shopping journey in a list of technical specifications for a particular tile model. Established by the Porcelain Enamel Institute, a trade organization that supports the development and use of porcelain across many industries, the PEI rating of a surface describes the hardness of a porcelain glaze. The harder the glaze, the more resistant to surface wear that tile is, and the better suited it will be for high-traffic areas of a home or business.

The PEI scale comprises 6 classes that fall on a scale of 0 to 5. At the low end would be completely unglazed tiles, with the high end reserved for the tiles with the toughest surface glaze. The most common household tiles will usually have a PEI rating of 3 or 4. Lower ratings don’t automatically designate a lower-quality tile, just one that shouldn’t be used in areas seeing lots of foot traffic. For instance, some high-end tiles may be designed to be used exclusively as a strong visual element on walls or backsplashes and simply were not constructed to deal with lots of wear.

Through Body vs Color Body

This term is used to describe the visual similarity between the surface glaze of a tile and its interior construction.  A “through-body” tile will have a consistent tone throughout the thickness of the tile, all the way through the visible surface. Most porcelain tiles have a through-body construction, while most ceramic tiles typically will not. Ceramic tile is usually crafted with a method known as “color-body,” in which the surface design or glaze are a different shade than the rest of the tile body. Imagine each tile as a piece of cake. The through-body tile would be a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, while the color-body tile would be a white vanilla cake with chocolate frosting.

What does this mean in practical applications? In daily use, there won’t be any noticeable difference between the two types of tiles. The major benefit of through-body only becomes apparent when the surface is chipped. If we go back to the cake example, imagine running a finger through the frosting of the chocolate cake. The results of your sneaking a taste probably won’t be visible except under close inspection. Now do the same thing with the vanilla cake, and the white dough underneath will likely alert the rest of your party that you’ve sampled the sweets. In the same way, a chip on the surface of a through-body tile will be much harder to notice from a typical viewing distance than a chip on a color-body tile.

If you expect your floors to need to endure abnormally high traffic or situations that may lead to chips, it may be a good idea to seek out products with a through-body construction while you’re tile shopping.

These were just three of the many mystifying terms you might encounter while perusing flooring products online. Whether you’re just beginning to consider what type of floors you might want to have installed in your home, or you’re already deep in the tile shopping process, Empire Today® is always here to help. From our award-winning customer service team to our free in-home consultations, Empire® is dedicated to helping you find the best floors for your home with as little hassle as possible.

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The Basic Differences Between Porcelain and Ceramic

Both porcelain and ceramic tile are in the broader ceramic family. The difference is that porcelain is a type of ceramic that is made by a fusion of clays while ceramic tile is a class of material itself. Also, ceramic also isn’t fully vitrified, unlike porcelain tile. Now that you know the basics, you can get down to the nitty-gritty of what qualities each tile possesses.

Porcelain vs Ceramic is All About Durability

Both options are durable. However, the key difference between porcelain and ceramic tile is the level of water absorption. Denser and more impervious due to being fully vitrified, porcelain tile tends to be the tougher choice. Keep in mind that porcelain’s higher density also means it’s heavier. Ceramic tile is a durable option when you factor in scratch, stain, and scuff resistance. Yet, it’s not as resistant as porcelain and doesn’t do as well in high traffic areas. But, no matter the choice, you’ll be getting reliable and functional flooring.

What About Costs?

In general, ceramic tends to be less expensive than porcelain tile due to manufacturing costs. However, you must also weigh style options and features. In the end, when comparing porcelain vs ceramic costs, you need to consider what you value more. If you have room in your budget, you may not mind spending a little more for tile that’s better suited for your household’s needs.

Where Can Each Tile Type Be Used?

Of course, the durability and ease of maintenance can make a difference in where each tile type should be installed in your home. Generally, both ceramics are popular for bathrooms, kitchens, and other rooms that are faced with everyday moisture. However, porcelain tile’s lower absorption rate means it has less of a chance of being damaged by water and moisture. This doesn’t mean you can’t have ceramic in these moisture-prone rooms. If you’re looking for a more affordable option that still can be water resistant, it’s a great choice.

Installation Can Be Easy

The difference between porcelain and ceramic installations is that ceramic is easier to cut because it isn’t as dense. However, installing tile can be tricky overall. When it comes to installing new floors, it isn’t just about porcelain vs ceramic. It’s best to have your floors professionally installed, so you can save yourself the headache and have floors that will last. No matter which type of tile, you can damage your floors by making common DIY mistakes. Let Empire Today help make your life easier while you sit back and enjoy your new look.

Overall, both porcelain and ceramic tile are great options for almost any room in your home. If you really want to know which is better, it all depends on your preferences and what you hold important. Porcelain tile may be more durable, but if you’re remodeling a room with light traffic, ceramic’s lower costs may be more imperative. The most important thing is that you get what’s best for your home and style needs. Still haven’t decided which is best for you? Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to have a flooring professional come to your home and give you the full scoop.

The post Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

The floor is perhaps the main factor influencing your bathroom’s character, greatly affecting how it looks and how it feels—so you don’t want to pick just any random bathroom tiles when redesigning. If that statement sounds daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Empire Today® is here to help you choose bathroom tile you’ll love for years to come.

Know Which Bathroom Floor Tiles are Better for Your Home

There’s no one overall best tile for bathroom floors because every homeowner will have different needs. Before you begin shopping for bathroom floor tile, it can be very helpful to get a quick primer on the available options and what benefits they each can add to the room. While aesthetics are probably your primary focus, there are plenty of optional features to consider—features that can influence how comfortable your bathroom is, how safe it can be, how easy it is to keep clean, and more.  Getting to know these options will help you best understand which product will be your ideal bathroom flooring. 

Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile:

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are quite similar and usually impossible to tell apart with just a glance, but they do differ in durability and sustainability. Although both tiles are clay-based, the raw material used for porcelain tile is more refined and heated at a higher temperature. This makes porcelain bathroom tiles harder than ceramic, which in turn makes them a bit more durable and less porous than ceramic. Those features will make porcelain a better bathroom tile if you expect your floors to encounter high levels of moisture, lots of traffic, or things being dropped on the floor often—all common occurrences in, say, a kids’ bathroom.

While ceramic is technically a less robust material, it’s no slouch itself. Ceramic tile is still highly resistant to water, scratches, and stains. And it’s usually a bit more affordable than porcelain tiles in a comparable size and style. That makes ceramic a good choice if you’re on a budget but you still want bathroom tiles that can stand up to typical traffic.

Whether you choose ceramic or porcelain bathroom floor tiles, both materials offer some available options that can make your bathroom floors safer and easier to keep clean. Non-slip bathroom tiles are worth considering for any home, and especially those with young children or elderly residents. Both ceramic and porcelain tiles from Empire® are available with a non-slip finish.

Persistent moisture and condensation buildup doesn’t just turn floors into a slip hazard—it also creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Despite most homeowners’ best efforts, moisture will collect in a bathroom. But having mold and mildew-resistant bathroom flooring installed will go a long way towards keeping nasty growth at bay, making for a healthier, cleaner room.

Vinyl Tile

Vinyl bathroom tile is an option that has rapidly grown in popularity since first hitting the market. Because it’s usually a more budget-friendly product than porcelain or ceramic tiles, vinyl has become a common choice for homeowners shopping for affordable bathroom flooring. One of vinyl tile’s greatest advantages is being able to offer the aesthetics of a material with certain features that the same product usually does not offer. For instance, a stone-look vinyl tile can give you the look of fine marble, without the worries of needing to reseal the floor every few years.  

Many of the vast variety of vinyl floor tiles from Empire also offer the same practical benefits of porcelain or ceramic tile. You’ll find products with high resistance to scratches, scuffs, and wear; slip-resistant textured surfaces; and even enhanced mold and mildew resistance. One of the ways that vinyl tile can be a better choice for bathrooms than ceramic or porcelain tile is that a great many vinyl products are completely waterproof instead of being just water-resistant. The ability to endure heavy saturation or standing water for extended periods of time can be a great benefit in many bathrooms.  

One additional benefit of choosing vinyl tile for a bathroom floor is how the material feels underfoot compared to a tile floor. Vinyl flooring will be a bit softer and usually feels warmer to bare skin, making for a more comfortable floor when you’re barefoot. That’s something worth considering especially for those who have experienced the bite of a bare tile floor during a late-night bathroom visit in the middle of the winter. 

Choose a Style You’ll Love

Here’s the fun part: choosing the look! This is when you can stop thinking about what practical functions the room needs and focus strictly on style. And because bathrooms are typically closed off from the rest of the room and don’t need to perfectly mesh with the rest of your interiors, they’re a great place to get creative with your style and maybe even do some experimenting with your bathroom floors. 

Want your bathroom to feel like a tropical island retreat tucked away in an otherwise neutrally styled home? Choose a waterproof wood-look vinyl floor and go crazy with the bamboo plants. Want to make it feel like a literal throne room? Consider some stone-look tile for a palatial look. 

Get Bathroom Floor Tiles That are Built for Your Lifestyle

Now that you’ve been introduced to some of the best flooring choices for a bathroom, it’s time for the potentially difficult process of choosing just one. Since no household’s needs are exactly the same, the decision ultimately boils down to personal preference. What features will benefit you the most? Are you getting new flooring for the bathroom in your master bedroom that only you and your spouse share or is it for a bathroom that your kids will also use? If it’s for an adults-only bathroom, the difference in durability between porcelain and ceramic may not play a big factor in your decision. Similarly, if you live in a warm, dry climate, mold and mildew resistance might not be a high priority for your bathroom floor. 

When it comes down to it, your best bet is to start with the must-have features and work backward from there, finding a material and style that fits your budget and design goals. No matter the style, Empire Today offers bathroom floor tiles that can elevate your home’s décor while taking your lifestyle into consideration. A flooring professional from Empire can help you make that journey. 

Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to see all of your potential bathroom flooring options, without ever leaving your home. 

The post How to Choose the Right Bathroom Floor Tiles for Your Home appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Vinyl Flooring

First, is vinyl flooring. Vinyl plank, vinyl tile, and sheet vinyl are all great options when you have a pet, as they are highly resistant to staining, soiling, and scratches. And when accidents happen, vinyl flooring is easy to clean. Finally, vinyl floors can be more comfortable and more slip resistant than other flooring options available. As an added bonus too, vinyl is made to mimic the look and feel of real wood and tile, so it looks great in any home.

Laminate Flooring

Wood-look laminate flooring is also a good option for homes with pets. The finish on laminate flooring can help resist scratches, stains, and soiling. Look for laminate floors with a textured finish, as smooth finishes can be slippery for our furry friends.

Hardwood Flooring

If you want real wood in your home, opt for engineered hardwood, which is constructed with a thick solid wood veneer and a sturdy engineered backing to make it stronger than solid wood. Look for an engineered hardwood with a textured finish to help with slips.

Tile Flooring

Porcelain and ceramic tile are both good options to help prevent scratches and lasting damage from liquids. Be sure to look for a tile flooring that is slip-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about kids and pets running around, especially if there’s a wet area.

Carpet

Carpet and pets can co-exist! Not only is it soft and comfortable for pets, there are some great carpet options with added stain and soil resistance. Plus, Empire carries carpet with added PUP® Pet Urine Protection that helps protect carpet fibers from stains due to pet urine. If you’re looking for a carpet, keep in mind pet’s nails can snag and cause damage to carpet. We recommend keeping your pet’s nails trimmed or look for a carpet that won’t snag – the best carpet types for pets is plush, frieze, or HOME Fresh – an Empire exclusive.

Having a pet means loving them every day, from dirty paws, pee stains, and nail scratches – pets are family, and when you come home from a long day, they are the first ones to greet you with a wagging tail or soft cuddle. Whether you’re looking for carpet, vinyl, tile, laminate, or hardwood, finding floors that make you and your pet happy is easy when you work with Empire. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to see our pet friendly flooring options in your home.

The post A Quick Guide to Choosing the Best Flooring for Pets appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Wood Look Porcelain Tile: An Affordable Alternative to Natural Hardwood

While hardwood has the quintessential wood look, it comes at a much higher price point. While many may opt for laminate or vinyl plank flooring instead, don’t pass up on tile! Porcelain tile has evolved from the typical ceramic look and is now available in a realistic hardwood style. With its tough build and natural wood look, porcelain tile can give you the best of both worlds for less.

Practical, Durable Flooring for Any Room

Wood look porcelain tile doesn’t just offer a modern wood look for less—it’s extremely durable and functional, too!

Durability for All of Life’s Challenges
Porcelain tile’s hard, dense construction gives it a high durability that can stand strong when faced with pressure and wear and tear.  In addition to being able to face heavy pressure, porcelain tile is commonly scratch-resistant. This makes it a great flooring option for pets. Of course, you should still clip their claws, but having scratch-resistant flooring makes keeping your floors flawless even easier.

Beautiful Wood Looks All Day, Every Day
Another feature porcelain tile naturally possesses is stain resistance. Because it can repel liquids, it’s harder for stains to seep down below its surface. Not only can this flooring help prevent your coffee spill from sticking around, but routine cleaning is easier. Other wood look options don’t mix well with water. However, with wood look porcelain tile, a wet mop won’t damage your floors and wiping up stains can be simple. Every flooring type has cleaning dos and don’ts, but all you need is a soft broom or a mop—cleaning porcelain is as easy as it gets.

Water Resistant Attributes
Wood looks aren’t recommended for rooms prone to moisture. Why? Moisture can very quickly warp and buckle hardwood and laminate flooring. Wood look porcelain tile, however, is inherently water-resistant. That modern wood look in your kitchen or bathroom you’ve been dreaming of just became a real possibility!

Tile is Perfect for Warm Climates

Live in a warmer climate? High temperatures, UV rays, and humidity can mean buckling and warping on traditional wood in the long term if you’re not careful. That’s not really the case with tile. Built to deal with all of the above, tile remains cooler under your feet than other traditional home floors. It’s no surprise that wood look tile is extremely popular in the southwestern states.

Wood Look Porcelain Tile is Fit for Every Room

Tile is a popular option in moisture-prone rooms such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Wood look porcelain tile is no different. However, this flooring isn’t limited to those rooms. Because of its realistic wood look and high durability, it can even be used in common areas such as the living room or master bedroom.

Forest Lane: A Wood Look Porcelain Tile That’ll Last

Porcelain tile is already a great flooring option, but Empire Today’s Forest Lane takes wood look porcelain tile to the next level. Not only does it have a natural hand-scraped detail to give it a realistic wood look, it’s stain, water, and slip resistant! With the durability of tile and the sophisticated look of hardwood, Forest Lane is a perfect flooring for any room.

It’s easy to see why wood look porcelain tile remains a staple this summer. To get modern floors that’ll last in your home, Schedule a FREE Estimate with us today!

The post Wood Look Porcelain Tile Isn’t Just a Trend, It’s Here to Stay appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Getting Tiles for Living Room Floors Means Easy Maintenance

If you have kids or entertain guests, chances are your living room is utilized quite often. That means more chances of dirt and soil being tracked on your flooring. Cleaning is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be easy. Spilled juice? Dropped your coffee? Don’t fret! Porcelain, ceramic, and vinyl tiles are inherently stain and spill resistant. This not only lets you stop stressing over every spill but also helps maintain the longevity of your flooring. Unlike other hardwood, standing liquids are not a major threat to tile. If you’re hosting a party and don’t see the mess until after your guests leave, you don’t have to panic. To help you keep your porcelain and ceramic tile fresh just remember these few tips:

• Mop at least once a week with a damp mop (more for heavy traffic)
• Don’t scrub with highly abrasive tools
• Detergents, soap, and abrasive cleaners can leave a dull film on the surface
• Don’t use bleach or ammonia

Get Durability and Functionality

It’s nice to have flooring that can withstand common stains and spills, but what about other inevitable uh-ohs? Shoes, pets, and even your furniture can leave scratches and scuffs on your flooring. If you get tiles for the living room, you’ll get flooring that can hold strong against heavy traffic. In addition to being water, moisture, stain, and spill resistant, tiles are guards against scratches and scuffs. That means it’s durable enough to withstand your family’s lifestyle, making it even great for pets. Although tile is built to hold up against heavy traffic and scratches, it isn’t invincible. You still need to take measures in order to prevent damages. Here are a couple of things you can do to make sure your tile lasts:

• Remove shoes before entering your home
• Add protective pads, such as felt pads, to the legs on heavy furniture

Great in Warmer Climates

Another thing to consider when choosing floors for your home is the climate in which you live. Warmer climates mean humidity. Flooring options, such as hardwood and laminate, can warp and buckle when faced with humidity and the moisture that comes with it. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are a great option to help keep your home cool because tile isn’t easily damaged under humid temperatures like other wood looks. In addition to being durable under heat, tile doesn’t conduct heat as well as hardwood, making it cool to the touch and a better option to help avoid overheated rooms. When you choose tile, you can help cool down your home while having a style that can handle what warm weather may bring.

Just as Stylish as Other Flooring Options

If you want tiles for living room décor but are concerned about the style of your floors, rest easy. Tile flooring has evolved, and the basic ceramics are no longer a must. Not only can you get a natural stone look, Empire has plenty of realistic wood look tiles. Worried about how new flooring will match with your home’s aesthetic? Our neutral-toned styles can easily coordinate with your existing décor. Here are a couple of options that can help you modernize your living room and home overall.

Realistic Wood Look with Forest Lane

Want a wood look with functionality and durability? Forest Lane is the solution to your flooring needs. Highly scratch resistant, this porcelain tile was built to withstand heavy traffic. With its natural hand-scraped texture, Forest Lane has a realistic aesthetic that can give your home a modern look with easy maintenance.

A Wood Look That’s Built to Last with Canal Pier

Canal Pier is a vinyl tile that’s far from traditional. Not only does this USA manufactured vinyl tile give a natural wood look and texture, it’s built to withstand heavy traffic and your family’s lifestyle. In addition to having the typical benefits of vinyl tile, Canal Pier has an advanced aluminum oxide finish to help it look new without waxing, buffing, or polishing.

If you’re considering new floors for your living room, don’t count out tile! While it may be known as an option for moisture-prone rooms, it can work just as well in other common areas. You can get style and durability that may not even be available with other flooring options. Schedule an appointment with Empire Today and see what tile styles can work in your living room.

The post Should You Consider Tiles for Living Room Floors? appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Get Kitchen Floor Tiles that Fit Your Lifestyle

When choosing kitchen floor tiles, the best thing to do is consider your lifestyle. How big is your family? How often do you cook, and what meals will be cooked? How much time do you have to clean? All of these play into what kind of tile you should get in your kitchen. If you have kids, accidents are bound to happen. You want flooring that doesn’t make you stress over every spill and stain. If you have a pet, you want kitchen tile that won’t give in to claws.

What Purpose Does Your Kitchen Serve?

While thinking about your lifestyle, also consider how you’ll be utilizing your kitchen. Is it strictly for cooking, or do you have a dining area for your family to share meals? Maybe your house is the designated holiday party destination. Whatever the purpose is, make sure your flooring is ready to take it on. For heavy traffic, make sure it’s scratch resistant. If your family can dine in the kitchen area, make sure the kitchen floor tiles are spill resistant. If you feel your kitchen will have a lot of water and moisture, vinyl’s mold and mildew resistance is a feature you should consider.

Know Your Kitchen Floor Tiles Options

Style is one thing, but it’s important to understand how the flooring you choose will benefit your family’s lifestyle. Consider these tile options and decide which is best for your home:

Vinyl: Kitchen Floor Tiles with Easy Maintenance

Vinyl tile has quickly become the popular flooring choice for modern homes. Its realistic aesthetic and feel make the difference from actual tile unnoticeable. In addition to having a ceramic look, vinyl tile is easy to maintain. Its water, stain, and scratch resistance helps it last even longer in kitchens with high traffic. But that’s not the end of its capabilities. Vinyl tiles are also mold and mildew resistant. Rooms that are moisture prone are breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Vinyl tile’s resistance results in a better chance of longevity so you can keep your style for a while.

Style Meets Durability with Porcelain and Ceramic Kitchen Floor Tiles

Ceramic and porcelain kitchen floor tiles not only have a vast array of looks, they have the durability to help these styles last. Like vinyl tiles, they’re water, stain, and scratch resistant. This makes them perfect for heavy traffic and a busy lifestyle. In addition to those three features, Empire Today has ceramics that also have slip-resistance. Not only can water damage flooring, but standing spills can be accident hazards for children playing or even adults just grabbing something out of the fridge. Having flooring that’s slip-resistant can help prevent nasty falls and bumps and bruises.

You may be wondering, “What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles?”. Well, while they’re similar in look and features, porcelain tile is more durable. When manufactured, its clay is heated for a longer time at a higher temperature, making tougher overall.

When choosing which type you want for your kitchen floor tiles, consider the benefits and what it means for you and your family. While certain tiles may seem similar the small details may make a big difference in your household. As long as you’re making an insightful decision, you can’t go wrong.

Get a Style You’ll Love

Know what to consider when choosing kitchen floor tiles that are best for your home? Check. Learned the different types of kitchen floor tiles? Check. The next question to ask yourself is what look are you going for?

Do you want a standard tile or do you want a realistic wood or stone look? Wood look tile can bring a modern and timeless aesthetic to your kitchen without the stress of spills and moisture ruining your floors. While a stone look can bring an elegant and classic feel to your home’s décor. Even traditional kitchen tile like Empire’s Equilibrium porcelain can elevate your kitchen with its sophisticated twist.

Another thing to take into consideration is your backsplash tile. Your floor tile doesn’t have to match it exactly, but it’s important not to make them clash. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to have fun! Think beyond what you used to know about kitchen tile. Flooring has improved over the years and so has its styles. Go for the stone or even the wood look and still have kitchen floor tiles that are durable to withstand your family and guests.

Get a realistic wood look with Woodland Trail porcelain tile

Equilibrium gives a sophisticated twist to traditional porcelain tile

Stone look with high durability with Options vinyl tile

Your flooring plays a very important part in your kitchen’s aesthetic. Make sure you know what tile options are available, what to consider when choosing one, and what style will go perfectly with your home’s décor.

Ready to take your kitchen to the next level? Schedule your FREE In-Home Estimate and have a flooring professional show you our various porcelain, ceramic, and vinyl tile styles that are made especially for kitchens.

The post Getting Kitchen Floor Tiles to Enhance Your Home appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

What is Wood-Look Tile?

Advancements in floor manufacturing have allowed porcelain and ceramic tile to resemble natural wood planks, resulting in wood look tile. Photorealistic photography and printing technology captures the character and random patterns of wood, and the images are printed onto the tile itself. What’s even better is that the tiles are made in the shape of wood floors – no square tiles here – so you can get that plank look. There are different plank sizes available, such as 12” X 24”, 13” X 17”, and more. In many cases, people have a hard time telling the difference between wood look tile and wood flooring. And, that is not just a visual comparison. The actual feel of wood look tile can mimic the hand scraped, rustic qualities of a plank of hardwood flooring.

Why is Wood-Look Tile Better?

Have you ever wanted wood flooring in areas of your home where solid hardwood floors and/or wood laminate floors are not recommended? Hardwood looks timeless and beautiful, but you wouldn’t want to have it installed in wet rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements, or even laundry rooms. Wood floors, like solid hardwood, engineered hardwood, and even laminate are susceptible to damage if they’re exposed to moisture. Wood-look tile is a great alternative in this case. Plus, tile is constructed to be extremely durable – it resists most scratches and moisture, making it a great choice for high-traffic rooms. Finally, you can have a floor that looks like wood, with all the benefits of tile.

Wood-Look Tile is Unlikely to Fade

Prolonged exposure to sunlight can be bad news for hardwood floors. UV Fading can drastically alter the color of some wood floors. That’s not the case with wood-look tile options. Throw the blinds and shades open and let the sun shine in on your beautiful interior without a worry.

How to Clean Wood-Look Tile

Real wood and water are not a good match. Plus, real wood can scratch from a mistake as simple as using the wrong setting on a vacuum. Don’t let us get started on steam mops. Wood Look Tile can be easily cleaned with a damp mop once a week. Skip the strong detergents and soap – water will get most jobs done when it comes to Tile. Remember to always check the manufacturer recommendations on cleaning before you use any household cleaner on your tile floor.

There’s no guessing why Wood Look Tile has become one of the hottest trends in flooring recently. It is manufactured to look just like wood floors, but it has all of the great properties of a tile like moisture and scratch resistance. Wood Look Tile allows you to get that great wood look in any room without the worry of how your floor will handle traffic, splashes and spills, or even something as simple as sunlight.

Empire Today has several different options of wood tile floors that can be professionally installed. Get started by scheduling a FREE In-Home Estimate and a sales representative will show you samples, measure your rooms for free, and help you find the perfect Wood Look Tile for your home.

The post Wood-Look Tile: Why It Continues to Be a Trendsetter appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

1. Luxury Vinyl Tile

This premium vinyl tile product is designed to look as similar as possible to high-end materials like natural stone. However, luxury vinyl tiles are much more cost-effective, and they withstand moisture much better than most natural stone tiles. Plus, they won’t feel cold to your feet!

2. Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Generally speaking, hardwood is one type of flooring that may not withstand the moisture of the bathroom or the kitchen. Water in large amounts can be a problem for wooden surfaces, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the warm, natural wooden look you love. Select styles of Empire Today’s vinyl plank flooring are 100% waterproof, meaning you don’t have to pull your hair whenever there’s a spill in your kitchen or bathroom. In addition to guarding against water, its wood look is so realistic that you might actually have a hard time telling it apart from planks of Brazilian Cherry or Acacia.

3. Ceramic Tile Floors

Made from clay pressed in a kiln at high temperatures, ceramic is calibrated to be the same thickness and size, which gives you a uniform look in the home. Ceramic tile also looks luxurious, and Empire Flooring offers ceramic tile that replicates the color variations and texture of natural stone tile.

4. Porcelain Tile Floors

Similar in many ways to ceramic tile, porcelain tile is also a very popular flooring option in the home. Porcelain is dense, durable and is moisture-resistant, which makes it perfect for wet and humid environments like the bathroom or the kitchen. Homeowners can select the style, texture and color variation of tile that they like best for their bathroom or kitchen.

5. Sheet Vinyl Flooring

If maintenance and cost are two big priorities, then sheet vinyl is a solid choice for both the bathroom and the kitchen floor in your home. Sheet vinyl is installed without gaps or creases where dust and debris can settle, which makes it easier to keep clean without a lot of effort. These large sheets of vinyl come in a variety of colors and styles to best fit your style, and they can even replicate the look and patterns of more expensive stone and wood.

With so many flooring options on the market, it can be difficult to select the best one. These five flooring options are some of the top choices to consider for your kitchen or bathroom. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to see what works best in your own kitchen or bathroom. We’ll come to you.

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Are you thinking about giving your home an overhaul, but aren’t sure where to begin? Try looking at the latest design trends for inspiration—we’ve seen some great tile trends in 2015! Whether you are a Pinterest enthusiast or an Internet surfing champion, inspiration is everywhere. To make updating your floors easier, we have made it our mission to find out what is trending in 2015 for tile flooring.

It Looks Like Real Wood!

Wood look Tile Flooring is in! And, no, we’re not joking! Wood-look tiles are changing the face of Tile trends in 2015—just take a look at our Forest Lane Porcelain Tile! You may never have realized that the wood floor you were so impressed with was actually Ceramic Tile! With wood-look Tile Flooring, you can get the look of wood without the worry of getting water on it. Trust me; I’ve spilled water all over my Ceramic Tile. The latest technology has brought tile that looks so much like wood it’s hard to tell which is which.

Wood-look tile flooring can be used in any room of your house where real wood is typically used, but it can also be installed in rooms where hardwood was never an option before. In addition to the warm brown of traditional hardwood flooring, ceramic tiles also give a more innovative decorator access to shades of deep chocolate or pale grey that can completely transform the look of a room. And because wood-look tiles don’t need to be glazed, they can tolerate heavy traffic without chipping or cracking. We personally love the idea of getting the look of wood without the upkeep.

The Bigger the Better!

In 2015 there is an explosion of sizes, shapes, materials and patterns. But what is currently trending for Tile Floors are large-format tiles. As opposed to the tried-and-true 12” x 12” tiles, try going bigger. After all, bigger is better, right? We think so. With larger tiles, they not only look great, but the larger sizes also mean more tile surface and less grout lines to clean. Tile also comes in planks, which helps give the look and feel of wood. Typically, longer planks from 36” to 48” are popular among Tiles today. With long planks, your floors can resemble that of Hardwood flooring—no one will even notice the difference.

Stagger Your Tiles

Bring your tile to life! Staggering rectangular tiles is in! By doing this, you can create flow and movement throughout the room. The rise in popularity of the staggering of tiles is due in part to wood-look tile—one of the hottest trends in 2015. The placement of staggered tiles adds depth and movement to any room because your eyes are drawn to the different positions of the tiles. One simple design can turn any space into an incredible work of art.

When it comes to updating your home’s flooring, look to the trends of 2015—I know we are! Tile isn’t just for bathrooms anymore. From wood-looks to bigger tiles, your flooring can really stand out with the latest trends in tile flooring for 2015.

Ready to see the hottest tiles of 2015 in your own home?

The post Tile Trends in 2015 That Work in Any Room appeared first on Empire Today Blog.